Second Fragment:
>>The document then recounts that Philip II forgot the admonitions made by his father, Charles V who, we are told, is remembered in the Netherlands with great respect. From the very beginning of his reign Philip had been trying to bring the country "into slavery under Spanish rule". It continues with a long and familiar list of grievances, starting with the story of the reorganisation of the ecclesiastical structure.
Explanatory note: fourteen new bishoprics were to be created, with the most important towns becoming episcopal sees and two canons serving as inquisitors being attached to each bishop (thus reviving the almost defunct diocesan inquisition). A powerful church structure supported with a more effective ##inquisition was seen by Philip II as essential for the preservation of the Catholic faith.
FRAGMENT 2
[fragment:] Through the appointment of the canons the king would have introduced >the Spanish inquisition in these countries where (as is generally known) it has always been held to be as abominable and odious as the worst slavery. When once >His Imperial Majesty proposed to establish it in these countries, his subjects submitted a remonstrance which made him withdraw the project. Thus he displayed the sincere affection he felt for them.
Various written remonstrances were submitted to the king by towns and provinces and verbal complaints were made by two prominent nobles of the country, >the lord of Montigny and the count of Egmont. With the consent of the >duchess of Parma, then regent of these countries, and on the advice of the Council of State and the States General, these nobles were in turn sent to Spain. Although the king of Spain gave them verbal assurances that he would comply with their request, shortly afterwards he sent written orders that the bishops would be received immediately, on penalty of incurring his wrath, and put in possession of their bishoprics and incorporated abbeys, and that the inquisition be enforced where it had existed before and the decrees of >the Council of Trent be executed (this was in various ways contrary to the privileges of the said countries). When all this became generally known, it naturally gave rise to much alarm among the people and the great affection which as faithful subjects they had always felt for the king of Spain and hi forebears greatly diminished. They were particularly shocked by these events because they noticed that the king was not only trying to tyrannise over their persons and possessions but also over their consciences. For these they thought to have to answer to none but God alone.
Thus in 1566, out of pity for the people the most prominent members of this country's nobility >submitted a remonstrance to his Majesty. In this they asked him to >mitigate his policy relating to the strict inquisition and punishment in matters of religion, in order to appease the people and to prevent all sedition, and moreover to show thereby the love and affection which as a merciful prince he felt for his subjects.